From my own thoughts and experiences,

handheld,

As a book that can be read by other people.

Have you heard of 'Independent Publishing'?

It usually refers to a publication written, designed, published, and distributed by one person or a small team. It may be overwhelming for one person to do everything on their own, but you can make as many parts as you like.

I have been doing this independent publication since 2016 and have been running a single-person publishing house.

Hello,

I'm Kim Hyun-kyung, who runs the publishing studio Warm Grey & Blue.

Originally, I was a person who didn't have much to do with books or writing.

From the time I graduated from school, I received psychiatric treatment for depression and panic disorder. At that time, I wanted to talk about my condition, but it was difficult to speak, and I thought I could write. I wanted to tell me that the words “go outside and bask in the sun and meet some people” are impossible.

Then I became curious about how other people, people like me, live, and the book I created was published at the end of 2016 This is a handbook of depression <I can do anything>. I sold up to 6 copies of this book, and recently it was republished by the publisher Wisdom House.

As more and more books were being sold, I registered as a publisher due to tax issues, and when I registered, I also traded with distributors. What I started by chance became my job.

The name of the difficult publishing house was actually difficult because I myself didn't know how long I would be able to do this, so I deliberately made it difficult. Even if it's gone, it's a name that's easy for someone to forget. I wasn't that confident.

The experience of holding my book in my hand, I think the appeal of independent publishing is, of course, the experience of holding a book written and created by oneself from the producer's point of view.

I think it's a similar experience to making things we can easily buy with our own hands.

Because independent publications are self-contained, and there's no part you can't reach.

I remember something like this.

I've been teaching about independent publishing and design in Haebangchon. By the way I've met quite a few students who say they don't have confidence and don't make books even after coming to class.

It would be really fun to make a book, but I thought, 'So should I make a book? ' I felt like that. So we got together to talk and hold a writing workshop. After a few weeks, when I shared a book with everyone's text on the last day, I actually felt like I was going to do that workshop because I wanted to see the expressions of the moment they held the book in their hands. I remember those expressions as wonderful smiles that I can't explain.

I later shared the leftover books and sent them to the bookstore that runs the space. There were some people who were a bit hesitant about selling the book, but I thought it would be another pleasure to be read by other readers and get feedback on the book because I thought it would be another pleasure to sell it.

Because of this process, I thought I could keep making books. I thought it would be nice to share that experience.

The course itself is still very difficult for me, but I'm always excited when a new book comes out. I'm a little worried that the printing wasn't wrong, but I'm always curious about how it will come out and how it will be read.

Distribution of publications learned by asking people around,

While making and selling this book, which was very sloppy at first, I learned by asking around with my fists. Therefore, at the end of 2017, one year after the book was sold, it was registered as a publisher under the name “Warm Gray & Blue,” and since then it has been distributed to major distributors. By the time I packed a total of 7-8,000 copies myself and sent them to bookstores and distributors, I thought, “Why do you do that?” I also learned about the existence of a “warehouse.”

This kind of information was obvious to people in the industry, but for me, who didn't know about publishing, everything was new. Also, it was difficult to find people like me who were in a situation where independent publications without an ISBN were packed and sent directly from home, so it was even harder to ask. It was difficult because there was no one to tell me about these processes, but eventually I learned about them with the help of people around me.

I'll help you not go through this kind of trial and error. Here are the know-how and tips I've learned from running a real independent publishing studio!

I'm going to learn something like this!

From planning to editorial design to distribution.

• What kind of book to make planingand,
• Write or draw Create content,
• how editsThinking about whether to do it,
• Cover and letter designsDo,
• printingHow to do it,
• Of the last book I made currenciesWhat should I do.

Through this process, I would like to participate in the production of one-step, one-step independent publications.

PART 1.

Planning and editing

• planning, “What kind of story can you tell?”
• Writing and creating and editing content “How can I show it well?”

A unique story with a unique style,

At the planning stage, I look for stories that I can do well and stories I want to tell, along with various examples. Even if it's the same story, it may vary depending on how it's shown and “edited.” I hope to create this part by exchanging opinions together.

Personally, I think the planning and editing part takes quite a bit of time as the design. So I'm going to talk about this section with a similar level of importance to the design class.

PART 2.

designs

• design 1. Or design using indesign (indesign)
• Design 2. Cover design using illustrator (illustrator)
• Design 3. Create a photoshop mockup and promotional materials

For design work, I use Adobe's indesign (indesign) and illustrator (illustrator) programs. I can work with other tools such as Hangul and Word, but I'll work while learning basic programs that I can leave behind once I learn them.

• What should I do about the layout of a book
• How should I design a cover
• What font to use and how big or small the font should be
• How to hand it over to a printing house

If you only want to work “enough to be able to make a book” in a situation where there is content, you can do enough work even with few tools. Don't be afraid to try the tool for the first time:)

PART 3.

Printing and distribution

Once you've finished the work for printing, choose the paper and choose how far you want to go for post-processing.

From writing to selling,

I've done a variety of work among the things that can be done with an independent publication. I will be able to share various experiences, such as writing on my own, publishing books that were only edited or designed, and working while handing over manuscripts directly to publishers. If time and time allow, I would like to take time to talk about the operation of a single-person publishing house itself.

From my own thoughts and experiences,

handheld,

As a book that can be read by other people.

Through this class, we can write and edit by ourselves The experience of holding a book you've created, and that's An experience that is read through othersI would like to be able to do it.

“The experience of holding my book with my name written on it”